> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # From Grant Applications to Permit Rules, a Busy Stretch at City Hall - URL: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/from-grant-applications-to-permit-rules-a-busy-stretch-at-city-hall/ - Published: 2026-09-17T01:00:58.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-17T01:00:57.000Z - Description: Council authorized grant applications for Nichols Park and Eastside projects, a committee moved to ease entertainment permit rules for businesses with code violation histories, and staff will soon brief on code enforcement practices and a proposed manufacturing tax incentive. - Author: Micaela Ricaforte - Tags: City Hall *A quick check-in on what's happened so far this week at Riverside's public meetings and what's still ahead.* ### Already This Week **Data Center Moratorium** — The Land Use Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend a 90-day pause on new data center proposals while staff work out a permanent definition and policy. - Stops short of Councilmember Philip Falcone's original push for an outright ban; the moratorium and permanent policy work move forward together - Concerns centered on Riverside's single connection to the statewide power grid and recent outages - Permanent ordinance would head to the Land Use Committee, then Planning Commission, then full council **Entertainment Permits** — The Land Use Committee voted 2-1 Monday to let the police chief approve entertainment permits for businesses with a history of code violations, if they show the problems are fixed and accept added conditions. - Committee also voted to keep permit appeals with a hearing officer rather than sending them to the City Council — Chair Clarissa Cervantes dissented, wanting a council role preserved - Both items head to the full City Council next ### City Council **Nichols Park Community Center Grant** — Council authorized a grant application to the California Strategic Growth Council's Community Resilience Centers Program to fund replacement of the aging Nichols Park Community Center in Ward 3. - Would fund up to $10 million toward an expanded, roughly 30,000-square-foot facility — up from the current 10,000-square-foot building, built in 1977 - New building would include a Deaf cultural center with a 99-seat theater, plus expanded gym and recreation space, and would double as a climate emergency shelter (cooling/warming center, evacuation site) - Total project cost now estimated at $30 million, up from a 2021 estimate of $13.4 million; the city is also pursuing an $8.5 million Statewide Parks Program grant this December - No match required; project can be phased if full funding doesn't come through **Riverside Thrive Initiative Grant** — Council authorized a Transformative Climate Communities application to the Strategic Growth Council and Department of Conservation for up to $27.5 million, covering clean energy, housing, and infrastructure projects across the Arlanza, Arlington Heights, and Casa Blanca neighborhoods (Wards 5 and 6). - Requires a 50% city match ($13.75 million), to be drawn from HOME, PLHA, HHAP, and Safe Streets for All funds - Follows the city's 2020 TCC award of about $9.1 million for Eastside solar and greening work, which wraps up September 30 - City's pre-proposal ranked in the top 15 of nearly 50 statewide applicants - Full application due September 30 ### Still Ahead This Week **Code Enforcement Operations Review (Economic Development Committee, Sept. 17)** — Staff will brief the committee on Code Enforcement's structure and practices, including its response to recent inquiries about former staff conduct in street vendor enforcement. - 2,111 open cases citywide; 71 tied to sidewalk vendors, concentrated in Ward 5 (18) and Ward 1 (14) - More than 100 citations issued to sidewalk vendors since 2024, but few paid - A survey of 10 area jurisdictions found no new enforcement strategies Riverside isn't already using - Committee is being asked only to receive and file the report and give direction on further research — no binding action **Capital Investment Incentive Program (Economic Development Committee, Sept. 17)** — Committee will consider recommending a new property tax abatement tool aimed at attracting large manufacturers. - Would offer partial property tax abatement for up to 15 years on manufacturing investments over $25 million - City's share capped at $2 million a year over 15 years, contingent on company payments under a negotiated agreement - No project or company is being considered yet — this step only sets up the framework - Cities including Palmdale, Long Beach, and Riverside County already have similar programs ### What to Watch We're digging into a handful of stories from this week's dockets: a special tax district for new developments in Wards 4, 5, and 7, a council working group on AI, and updates to the city's employee reclassification policy. In-depth coverage on each story is coming soon! ### Other notes The council unanimously voted to continue its e-bike safety regulation ordinance to a future meeting.